‘Built Team India Together’ Ravi Shastri Pens His Emotions As Kohli Ends Test Captaincy

On Saturday, Virat Kohli informed the cricketing world of his decision to resign from the position of the Indian Test cricket captain as he wrote down his thanks and shared it from his various social media platforms. While some of the people expressed shock and surprise, those were witnessed the kind of struggle Kohli was going through both as a captain and as a player knew that this was something that was on the horizon.

The 2-1 series defeat against a limping and struggling South African team was the final nail in the coffin for Kohli’s tenure as the leader of the red-ball squad for India and as difficult it would be to bid adieu to his captaincy, there was a general sense of acceptance when it came to his decision and everyone welcomed it with open arms.

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This wasn’t because people were hoping to get rid of him as the face of the team (other than some highly toxic and blindly hating “fans”) but to see the man succeed at what he was destined to be – become the greatest batter in the history of the game.

One of the saddest people in the Indian cricket fraternity who expressed his sorrow publicly was Kohli’s former head coach, Ravi Shastri, who wrote a heartfelt message for the 33-year old while reminiscing all the incredible times they both had and the way they built the offensive juggernaut that the Indian Test cricket team has become over time.

Virat, you can go with your head held high. Few have achieved what you have as captain. Definitely India’s most aggressive and successful. Sad day for me personally as this is the team we built together – @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/lQC3LvekOf

— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) January 15, 2022

“Virat, you can go with your head held high. Few have achieved what you have as captain. Definitely India’s most aggressive and successful. Sad day for me personally as this is the team we built together – @imVkohli,” Shastri wrote on Twitter while sharing a friendly picture with the former skipper.

Looking at the former head coach’s unfiltered and absolutely from-the-heart comments on the internet, fans flocked to his Twitter handle and congratulated Shastri for having such a successful by with Kohli by his side in the longest format of the game:

The legacy of yours as a ‘Head Coach and Virat Kohli as a “Test Captain” will be remembered forever not just in Indian Cricketing history but in World Cricket.

We will miss this combination.

— Aditya (@Adityakrsaha) January 15, 2022

India’s Greatest Test Captain & Coach.

— CricketMAN2 (@man4_cricket) January 15, 2022

thank you for all the good times.. @RaviShastriOfc pic.twitter.com/Elq7hM8DJx

— RCB Army Telugu™ (@RCBTeluguArmy) January 15, 2022

thank you for all the good times pic.twitter.com/lTrnT4hSN7

— best girl (@awkdipti) January 15, 2022

You always backed him. Thank you both for revolutionising indian test cricket

— Positive Entropy (@EntropyPositive) January 15, 2022

Guruji apke jane k baad cheeku bhaiya pehle jese nhi h he is Missing u ravi bhai

— Ravi Bhai chepal best Friend (@Ravi_beer_69) January 15, 2022

Kohli and Shastri have been working together in Test cricket since 2015 when Kohli was named full-time skipper of the longest format. Shastri was serving as Team Director at the time. India defeated the then-world number one Test team South Africa 3-0 at home after winning an away series in Sri Lanka.

Shastri’s term as Team Director came to an end after that, but Kohli’s fantasy run as captain in Test cricket continued with sweeping home series victories against New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, and Australia.

Thank You Virat Kohli for all the memories as test captain #viratkholi #ViratKohli#Virat #Kohli #BCCIpic.twitter.com/6HPX2HsgW0

— CRICKET VIDEOS (@AbdullahNeaz) January 15, 2022

In July 2017, Shatri was rehired as the team’s head coach. He and Kohli then paired together to keep the winning streak going at home, as well as winning two historic Test series in Australia.